Meta fined record $1.3 billion by EU over data transfers

Meta has been fined a record $1.3 billion by European Union privacy regulators for transferring personal data from Facebook's EU servers to the United States.

The European Data Protection Board announced the fine on Monday morning, which Meta said it would appeal.

"The EDPB found that Meta IE’s infringement is very serious since it concerns transfers that are systematic, repetitive and continuous," Andrea Jelinek, the EDPB chairwoman, said in a statement. "Facebook has millions of users in Europe, so the volume of personal data transferred is massive."

"The unprecedented fine is a strong signal to organisations that serious infringements have far-reaching consequences," Jelinek continued.

The crux of the issue will be whether or not the U.S. government will complete a deal to allow Meta and other multinational companies to keep sending information to the U.S., the Wall Street Journal reported.